Job Description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programs that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.
Information at a Glance
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Job Title:  Sr Principal / Principal Scientist Personal Care Formulation & Implementation
Travel Required?:  Travel - up to 10% of time
Posting Start Date:  7/1/26
Hybrid

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number #174499 - Piscataway, New Jersey, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.
 

We are seeking an enthusiastic Principal Scientist to lead a segment of our dynamic Handsoap Personal Care R&D team. You will own the end-to-end product development lifecycle from concept to commercialization within the personal care category for North America. Your primary mission will be exploring and integrating cutting-edge material science and formulation fundamentals to drive next-generation innovations. This is an exceptional opportunity to scale global brands, influence technical strategies, and foster a high-performance culture of creativity and collaboration.

  • Lead, motivate, and develop the R&D team to foster a high-performance culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous technical growth 

  • Drive the exploration, integration, and scaling of new surfactant chemistry, rheology, and formulation innovations into body cleansing products

  • Manage the entire product design and full development lifecycle, effectively leveraging both internal and external resources to ensure flawless execution

  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders—including Marketing, Supply Chain, Legal, and Regulatory—to validate new products and support business priorities

  • Oversee critical technical documentation, including formula databases, claims support, standard operating procedures, and tech transfer checklists

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline 

  • At least 12 years of Research and Development experience within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry

  • Minimum of 2 years of proven experience in direct people management and team leadership

  • Demonstrated technical experience in the formulation, evaluation, and scale-up of personal care or cleansing products

Preferred Requirements:

  • Masters Degree or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field

  • Advanced technical knowledge of ingredient chemistry, surfactant interactions, emulsions, and OTC drug requirements 

  • Proficiency in statistical Design of Experiments (DOE) and measurement science

  • Strong functional competencies in cross-organizational communication, with a proven ability to succinctly present complex technical details to non-technical business partners

  • Familiarity with intellectual property management and a track record of supporting manufacturing plants in solving complex technical production challenges


Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range $124,000.00 - $174,000.00 USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.

Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion
Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives  to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please click here.

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